Stamp-affixer.



B. D. STRAIGHT. STAMP AFPIXER. APPLIOATION FILED 11111.20. 1912.

1,093,658. Patented 11111.21, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

SI2/@Humanes /f' f @11 s m B. D. STRAIGHT.

STAMP APFIXER.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. zo, 1912.

1,093,658. Patented Apr. 21, 19M l 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

tf1 Il# STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENNETT D. STRAIGHT, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 MULTIIPOST COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STAMP-AFFIXER.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, BENNETT D. STRAIGHT, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stampr-lrfixers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention relates to machines for applying stamps or labels to various articles, having reference particularly to the atlixing of postage stamps to mail matter, the machines for which embody, generally, means for feeding a continuous strip of stamps and successively separating the stamps from the strip, and it has for its object to provide a novel form of feeding and aflixing devices, together with improved means for preventing the unauthorized or impropei1 removal of the stamps from the machine.

My invention further coinprehends means for holding or locking the continuous stamp strip against movement, in the event that any one attempts to remove the stamps from the machine in bulk, or without authority.

A further objectof my invention is to provide a novel means for moistening the envelops, previous to aiiixing the stamps.

To these and other ends the invention con-y sists in certain improvements and combina-Y tions of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

1n the drawings: Figure 1 is a` view in front elevation of a machine embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a top plan view, the operating handle being broken away; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line -a of Fig. 2; Fig. t is a sectional view on the line y-'y of Fig. 2, the parts appearing in normal position; Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the position of the several parts, when the aflixing plunger is depressed, and Fig. V6 is a sectional view on the line @da of Fig. 1.

Similar reference numerals in the several ligures indicate the same parts.

The present embodiment shows a preferred form of my invention, and includes a base 1 containing a liquid reservoir 2 from which Specification of Letters Patent.

Application tiled January 20, 1912.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

Serial No. 672,450.

liquid is supplied for moistening the envelops. An absorbent strip of felt or other suitable material, designated at 3, is arranged within the liquid reservoir and extends over the support 4, the latter being suitably attached to the walls of the base.

5 is a cover plate provided with an opening 6 arranged above the plate 4c for a purpose that will appear presently.

The base is provided with an upward extension 7 to which is attached the laterally projecting post 8, and arranged on said post are a series of liquid conveying devices, or fingers 9, pivotally mounted and provided with enlarged rounded extremities 10, which project through the aforesaid opening 6 and engage the absorbent strip 3. The lingers 9 rest lightly on the absorbent strip under their own weight, and the ext-remities 10 thereby become moistened by capillary attraction, so that as an envelop is inserted in the machine, it engages the fingers 9, lifting them, and lpassing' under the extremities 10, by which the envelop is wiped and thereby moistened preparatory to aflixing the stamp, as will now be described.

The base 1 is provided with a standard carrying the post 12. Pivotally mounted on said' post 12 is the stamp affixing plunger 13 provided wit-h an operating handle 14 and a resiliently supported engaging surface 15, preferably held in proper relation to the stamp aflixing plunger by means of a suit able spring 16. The aiiixing plunger is held in normal or raised position, as shown in Fig. 4:, by means of the spring 17 which is attached at one end to the post 12 and has its opposite end in engagement with the opening 18 formed in the stamp affixing plunger.

19 is a cutting device, or knife, preferably of triangular shape and attached to the plunger 13, a leaf spring 20 being provided between the plunger and the knife whereby to hold the latter in proper relation to the stamp strip as will hereinafter appear, and to permit its yielding slightly on the stamp aiiixing plunger.

The stamp supply, or roll, is contained in the space 21 afforded in the base, and the Vstrip moves upwardly, and thence laterally on the guideway 22, being' fed across to the stamp aflixing plunger in a manner that I will now describe,

The guideway 22, in the present embodiment, is arranged between the upstanding walls 23, which may be attached to the base 1, or kformed integral therewith. Suitable ways 24: are provided in t-he walls 23 to receive the plate 25, the latter being disposed immediately above the stamp strip and provided with suitable openings to permit engaging and feeding of the stamp strip. Feeding of the strip is preferably accomplished by means of a series of fingers 26 which are adapted to engage the perforations in the strip. Said fingers are mounted for pivotal movement on a post 27, the ends of which engage ways 28 formed in thewalls 23. To effect the necessary movement of the fingers, the post 27 is connected by means of a link 29 with the stamp engaging plunger, the latter being formed with ears 30 for this purpose. In this manner,

Vas the stamp engaging plunger is depressed to separate a stamp from the strip and to afiiX the same, the fingers 26 are moved away from the end of the strip until they engage the next adjacent set of perforations. Upon releasing the operating handle, thel stamp engaging plunger moves upwardly under the action of the spring 17, carrying the fingers 26 forwardly and thereby advancing the stamp strip sufliciently to bring another stamp in position to be affixed.

In order to prevent any one from removing the stamps in bulk without proper authority, it is desirable to provide means for engaging and stopping the movement of the stamp strip in case an attempt is made to draw the strip from the machine without the usual operation, and to this end in the present embodiment I provide two sets of locking lingers designated at 31 and 32, which are pivotally mounted on a post 33, and are arranged between the upstanding wall at one side of the guideway and a projection 34 formed on the plate 25, the latter being cut away to permit the lingers to engage the stamp strip. The two sets of fingers 31 and 32 are adapted to be alternately lifted out of engagement with the stamp strip to permit feeding of the latter, and to this end are provided with suitable lugs or projections 35, adapted to be engaged by the uppermost portions of the fingers 26 as the latter travel backwardly and forwardly. The arrangement of the lugs on the several locking fingers is such that each set of fingers is automatically raised at the proper moment to permit the line of perforations to pass thereunder, so that the stamp strip may be properly fed during the regular operation of the machine. It is to be noted that one of the sets of locking fingers is always in engagement with the stamp strip, so that in case any one attempts to pull the strip from the machine without operating the handle in the usual manner, a

line of perforations on the stamp strip will be engaged by the locking fingers and further movement prevented. If the strip is then pulled, it will tear, and further operation of the machine will be impossible until it is opened by some one having an authorized key. To this end, an inclosing plate 36 is afforded and arranged to be locked in any suitable manner as by means of a hasp 37. The upper portion of the inclosing plate 3G is received in ways 38 formed in the walls 23, and is provided with a slot to permit movement of the link 29. lVhen the inclosing plate 3G is removed, it will be apparent that some one has been tampering with the machine and attempting surreptitiously to remove the stamps, and the strip must be repositioned and fed through the guideway by hand before the machine is again ready for operation. A suitable guide is provided for the cutting device, and in the present embodiment, this comprises a U- shaped member Afl() arranged at the end of the upstanding walls 23, and adjacent to the point where the stamps are afiixed. The guide l() controls the movement of the knife 19, and serves to bring it exactly to the line of the perforations so as to properly separate the stamp from the strip.

Upward movement of the stamp aflixing plunger may be limited in any desirable manner, as for instance by means of the lug 41 arranged thereon and adapted to engage the standard 11. In order to record the number of stamps taken from the machine a register 42 is provided, preferably arranged on the standard 11, and having its operating lever 43 connected to the stamp aflixing plunger by means of the link 44, so that upon each operation of the stamp affixing plunger, the register is operated. The arrangement of the link t4- with relation to t-he lever 43 is such that the stamp aflixing plunger must be entirely depressed in order to effect an operation of the register, and if the stamp afiixing plunger is lowered only partially, and not sufliciently to remove another stamp, the register will not be operated. y

While I have described my invention as applied to a particular embodiment, it is to be understood that I am not limited to the exact arrangement and construction of parts herein shown, but intend to cover by this application any modifications or departures that may come within the general scope of my improvements, and of the claims hereinafter.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a stamp afiixer, the combination with a stamp afliXing plunger, of a cutting device carried thereby, a stamp feeding means operatively connected to the stamp affixing plunger, and a locking device for preventing` movement of the stamp strip, the

locking device being normally in locking position and automatically released from engagement with the stamp strip upon the feeding movement of the stamp feeding means.

2. In a stamp afIiXer, the combinationvvith a stamp aflixing plunger, of a cutting device carried thereby, stamp feeding means operatively connected to the stamp affixing plunger, and independent locking devices for preventing movement of the stamp strip, the locking devices being alternately released from engagement with the stamp strip upon the feeding movement of the stamp feeding means.

3. In a stamp affiXer, the combination With a stamp aiiixing plunger, of a cutting device carried thereby, a guidevvay for the stamp strip, stamp feeding means operatively connected to the stamp affixing plunger, and a locking device projecting into said guidevvay to engage the stamp strip, the stamp feeding means being arranged to move the locking device out of the guidevvay to permit movement of the stamp strip.

4. In a stamp afXer, the combination With a supporting surface having an opening therein, of a liquid holder below said Vopening, a plurality of pivotally mounted metal fingers projecting through said opening to engage the liquid holder, a stamp aiiixing plunger arranged above the supporting surface, and stamp feeding means operatively connected to the stamp afXing plunger.

5. In a stamp affiXer,the combination With a supporting surface having an opening therein, of a liquid holder below said open# ing, a plurality of movable metal fingers having rounded extremities projecting through said opening to engage the liquid holder, a stamp affiXing plunger arranged above the supporting surface, and stamp.

feeding means operatively connected to the stamp aiiixing plunger.

6. In a stamp afiiXer, the combination With a stamp afliXing plunger, of a cutting device, stamp feeding means operatively connected to the stamp aftixing plunger, and a plurality of independently movable locking devices for preventing movement of the stamp strip, one or the other of the locking devices being constantly in engagement With the stamp strip and adapted to be released upon the movement of the feeding means.

7. In a stamp affiXer, the combination With a stamp aHiXing plunger, of a cutting device, a guideway for the stamp strip, stamp feeding means operatively connected to the stamp affixing plunger, and a locking device projecting into said guidevvay to engage the stamp strip, the stamp feeding means being arranged to move the locking device out of the guidevvay to permit movement of the st-amp strip.

8. In a stamp alfxer., the combination With a stamp aiiXing plunger, of a cutting device, stamp feeding means operatively connected to the stamp affiXing plunger, a plurality of independently movable locking devices adapted to engage the stamp strip, and projections on said locking devices arranged to be engaged by the stamp feeding means.

9. In a stamp aiiixer, the combination With a stamp afIiXing plunger, of a cutting device, a guideivay for the stamp strip, stamp feeding means operatively connected to the stamp afliXing plunger, a plurality of locking devices projecting into said guidevvay to engage the stamp strip, and projections on said locking devices arranged to be alternately engaged by the stamp feeding means.

10. In a stamp aiiixer, the combination With a stamp aiiiXing plunger, of a cutting device, stamp feeding means operatively connected to the stamp aflixing plunger, and a plurality of independent sets of movable locking devices for preventing movement of the stamp strip, one or the other of the sets of locking devices being constantly in engagement with the stamp strip, and means controlled by the movement of the feeding means for releasing said set of locking devices.

11. In a stamp atliXer, the combination With a stamp aiiixing plunger, of a cutting device, a stamp feeding means operatively connected to the stamp afIiXing plunger, locking devices for preventing movement of the st-amp strip, the locking devices being alternately in engagement With the stamp strip, and means controlled by the stamp feeding means for alternately releasing the locking devices from engagement with the stamp strip.

12. In a stamp afliXer, the combination with a supporting surface, of a liquid holder, a plurality of movable fingers arranged above the supporting surface and extending into said liquid holder, a stamp afixing plunger, and stamp feeding means operatively connected thereto.

BENNETT D. STRAIGHT.

Witnesses:

RUSSELL B. GRIFFITH, H. E. STONEBRAKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing' the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, '.D. C. 

